Thursdays With Auntie Hope

Yesterday Auntie hope was in a much better mood. Her only complaint was that her daughter hired a cleaning lady to come twice a week. I wondered why she would complain about this rather than appreciate it until I considered both sides of the story:

The daughter's perspective: My mom is 84. She shouldn't have to work so hard and has earned the right to take it easy in her final years. I will hire some help for her to relieve the burden. She will be so glad.

Auntie Hope's perspective: You have taken away the one thing I can do and control, the one thing I'm still good at - the ability to clean my house. What am I supposed to do now? I feel so useless.

It's amazing, isn't it, how we can approach a fact from completely different perspectives. I wonder sometimes how we humans get along at all (and yet it explains all that conflict...)

It's All a Matter of Perspective

"I used to watch the line where earth and sky met, and longed to go and seek there the key of all mysteries, thinking that I might find there a new life, perhaps some great city where life should be grander and richer - and then it struck me that life may be grand enough even in a prison." - from The Idiot, by Fyodor Dostoevsky

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Oh, the Things We Can Learn From Each Other...

Today at the grocery store there was a group of special needs adults on a "field trip". This in itself is unusual because you never see special needs adults- or kids- anywhere in South Africa. It's like they're all hidden away somewhere. I hope I'm wrong, of course, but I'm not the only foreigner who has commented on this.

I think this group of guys were learning life skills - how to buy food, count money, etc. Each one of the 15 or so men waited in queue at the till to buy chips and a cooldrink. They were all so friendly and polite to the lady behind the till. One of the young adults even hugged the lady when he had completed his transaction.

On their way out (I was at the till a few rows over) the guys were beaming at their accomplishment. I smiled at them. One of them waved at me. I waved back. The guy behind him giggled and waved at me. I smiled and waved back. The guy behind him blew me a kiss. I blew a kiss back. He blew me kisses all the way out of the store. I think I embarrassed my daughter, who was with me, but I don't care.

Now if I tried to hug the lady behind the till every time I went to the grocery store she'd probably think I'm a little weird, but it got me thinking... how often do we smile, greet and thank those who serve us? More often than not I get irritated when they have to do a price check on an item or when they don't have any change. I have a feeling, though, that those guys made that lady's day today. And I want to follow their example.

Because Chickens Aren't the Only Ones...

... who cross the road, especially here in South Africa.

Pretoria National Botanical Gardens

I love the National Botanical Gardens here in Pretoria because it's not a "fussy" garden. It's committed to growing, cultivating and showcasing plants indigenous to South Africa. There are trails all over the Gardens and you could easily spend the day there. Picnicking is welcomed. Kids are welcomed. Outdoor concerts are welcomed. And the best part is - it only costs about R20 to get in ($3.00).


I love it that the kids are allowed to climb on this tree. I think it's a wild fig tree... gone... wild.

I Can't Believe I'm Saying This

The grieving process is a funny thing. A few days ago I needed to go to the bank to deposit some cash. I waited in the queue for - I kid you not - 90 minutes. Because the queue was that long.

Normally this would drive me absolutely mad, but lately I've been feeling like life is moving by too quickly. I just want some time to be still and process my dad's death, but it seems like I've had to plunge immediately back into life. There are people to host, work to do, children to parent, not to mention the daily chores that seem to be silently screaming at me ("Wash me!" "Cook me!" "Dust me!")

Standing in a queue and not having to speak to anyone for 90 minutes was, strangely enough, therapeutic. I got to be alone with my thoughts for longer than I've had since my dad died. I know it's bizarre, for under any other circumstance I would be frustrated. This time, however, the long queue was a blessing.

I wonder how many other things are like that - irritations to most, but for some (or even one) a real blessing?

Free Indeed

The inmates at a nearby prison wear orange clothing with black circles. The black circles are actually made up of the word "prisoner." Last night Dan helped out at a prison outreach sponsored by our church.

For many of the inmates, being convicted of a crime and sent to prison was a wake-up call and they are using this time in prison to turn their lives around by studying the Bible and learning trade skills. If you have ever seen these guys worship God, you will know what I mean when I say that in many ways they are more free than those outside the prison walls.

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:36